for those who attended this year's schemitzun, what all did you think?? i went up on thursday expecting some dancing, nothing. something of a bummer.

it had a totally differant this year than in past years.

the other "entertainment" happened on saturday night about 8 pm or so. i am not sure of the all of the details but a big fight broke out with as many as 200 people being involve and numerous police from the surrounding towns coming to break things up, according to the local paper. i had counted about 45 police cars on my way back to my hotel, not realzing the full extent of the situation.

sounds like schemitzun is getting "rank" - even heard a girl got sexually assaulted during a room party at two trees - not that anywhere else is any safer...everybody's gotta be more careful out there...

Geez, someone post the full results, pleez!! Glad I didn't go this year. Sounds like this powwow is doing downhill fo sho. Heard there weren't even that many dancers to fill some of the categories. Maybe the original committee should take it back over.

North Stonington  A fight, reportedly between two tribes, broke out on the Wintechog Hill Road grounds of the Schemitzun festival at around 8 p.m. Saturday, police said.

There only were minor injuries. The weekend-long event, known as the Feast of Green Corn and Dance, is sponsored by the Mashantucket Pequots.

State police Sgt. Michael Collins of Troop E in Montville called the incident a "brawl," and another officer said the incident involved about 200 or so young men and women, whom he estimated to be 17 to 25 years old.

Collins said some of those injured were taken to the Mashantucket Police Department for questioning.

The incident included a fight, but there were no immediate arrests. The fight involved two to four people, according to state police Sgt. Martin Lane.

State police and officers from the Norwich, Stonington, Groton town, Montville and East Lyme police departments, some K-9 units, responded to the incident.

"We're investigating it as a breach of peace and a minor assault," said Lane.

Lane said the fight may have appeared larger than it was "because of the crowd of people here, just for the event. Because people get emotional."

Lane said that state police were handling the investigation and they anticipate making some arrests.

Schemitzun Fight Stumps Investigators

Police Say Witnesses Are Not Cooperating

By ETHAN ROUEN

Day Staff Writer, Police/Fire Reporter

Published on 8/30/2005

North Stonington  State police have been stymied in their investigation into a brawl that broke out between two Indian tribes Saturday night at the Schemitzun festival.

"It's difficult when you're not getting the cooperation you deserve," said Sgt. Michael Collins of Troop E in Montville. "The cooperation we're getting is minimal at best."

Most witnesses have not cooperated with the investigation, police said, and officers are having difficulty finding the fights' instigators, he said. There have not been any arrests.

According to Collins, several hundred people were involved in numerous fights on the festival grounds on Wintechog Hill Road Saturday. The fights began at about 8 p.m. and were quickly broken up by six state troopers. No one was injured.

Dozens of officers, including K-9 Units, were brought in from state police barracks and area police departments to ensure the violence would not flare up.

"With such a police presence, there were no more problems for the rest of the night," Collins said.

He said there was a heavy police presence the following day, and no fights occurred.

The people involved in the fights were rival members of the Narragansett Tribe of Rhode Island and the Shinnecock Tribe of New York, Collins said. The rivalry began about a year ago when a fight broke out between the tribes in New York.

Spokesmen for both tribes stressed that the fights were between members of the tribes who did not represent the beliefs of the tribes.

Beverly Jensen, a spokeswoman for the Shinnecock, said the fights may have started because of a case of mistaken identity. She said two women who were believed to be, but were not, Shinnecock members were attacked.

"It's silly and it needs to stop," she said of the fighting. "We maintain close ties with the Narragansett Nation. We don't consider ourselves to have any rivalry with the Narragansett Nation."

First year I went and thought should of had drumming and dancing on thursday myself. Dont know if show up next year if their is drumming contest. As far as the dancing it was jammin. Had good time. These are what I can remember off hand.

__________________"When the forest weeps, the Anishinabe who listens will look back at the years. In each generation of Ojibway there will be a person who will hear the si-si-gwa-d, who will listen and remember and pass it on to the children."

__________________"When the forest weeps, the Anishinabe who listens will look back at the years. In each generation of Ojibway there will be a person who will hear the si-si-gwa-d, who will listen and remember and pass it on to the children."

__________________"When the forest weeps, the Anishinabe who listens will look back at the years. In each generation of Ojibway there will be a person who will hear the si-si-gwa-d, who will listen and remember and pass it on to the children."

__________________"When the forest weeps, the Anishinabe who listens will look back at the years. In each generation of Ojibway there will be a person who will hear the si-si-gwa-d, who will listen and remember and pass it on to the children."

well wuz def an interesting eventful yr. not so many dancers as b4. the fight wuz crazy cuz i wuz ovr in tha food area wen it happened. but 4 all tha crazyiness, i met the love of my life!!!! ive never been so happy b4. he's everything i dreamed of & more. so if it wuznt 4 schemitzun, id b single & lonely. but im def not anymore. woo hoo!!!!!!!

well wuz def an interesting eventful yr. not so many dancers as b4. the fight wuz crazy cuz i wuz ovr in tha food area wen it happened. but 4 all tha crazyiness, i met the love of my life!!!! ive never been so happy b4. he's everything i dreamed of & more. so if it wuznt 4 schemitzun, id b single & lonely. but im def not anymore. woo hoo!!!!!!!

hey glad to hear the goot newz! but .. yeah i had a goot time too, i didn't get to go to the nine ... or gamble, i was too tired and i was beading my but off trying to get my new outfit together! also ... i met alot of new freinds which is always great!!

__________________"When the forest weeps, the Anishinabe who listens will look back at the years. In each generation of Ojibway there will be a person who will hear the si-si-gwa-d, who will listen and remember and pass it on to the children."